The Analog DAC

[cuprone1]

I'd be surprised if there was much of a diffrence. The spdif is buffered and reclocked. I will try the USB against my offramp 5 converter myself at some point and predict the offramp will be on Audiogon shortly. However, I bought a unit with USB, and the offramp / battery / cabling is $5k msrp, so for me it would make sense to go the USB route financially.

Edorr,
I am looking forward to read your considerations.

 

[asiufy]

For what it's worth, I've tried my Diamond DAC with my MacBook Pro via the built in USB option, as well as the MF VLink 192, and the internal USB was quite a bit better.
I know it's considerably more expensive, but I don't expect any $300-500 converter to beat the internal USB option...
Also, not convinced on Jriver on Windows. I installed it on a MacBook Pro, and it sounded slightly worse than the same machine with MacOS and Audirvana...


Alexandre

 

[hvbias]

I'd suggest people try Foobar with Windows. I preferred it to JRiver and Foobar uses almost no resources. MSB should be able to offer assistance on how to set it up.

 

[Priaptor]

I'd suggest people try Foobar with Windows. I preferred it to JRiver and Foobar uses almost no resources. MSB should be able to offer assistance on how to set it up.

It is pretty straight forward. I use Chris's CAPS system where I have turned off most services. I just love the ease of JRiver and JRemote makes using the server headless a great experience as well as great sound. I guess the issue is Mac v. Windows and I just think there is no comparison. It took me a long time to try a full blown Windows server, having bought into the hype of Mac based music servers and for me, there is no going back. I once again "tried" the latest Mac based players after reading the accolades of Audirvana 1.4+ and still like, by a fair margin, Windows.

Hey, but to each his own and whatever people find best and works best for themselves is all that matters.

 

[cuprone1]

For what it's worth, I've tried my Diamond DAC with my MacBook Pro via the built in USB option, as well as the MF VLink 192, and the internal USB was quite a bit better.
I know it's considerably more expensive, but I don't expect any $300-500 converter to beat the internal USB option...
Also, not convinced on Jriver on Windows. I installed it on a MacBook Pro, and it sounded slightly worse than the same machine with MacOS and AudirvanTHANKS

Alexandre

thanks Alexandre

 

[Elberoth]

cuprone1 - I did some comparisions today. I have compared the MSB Signature 384 internal USB module to my BADA Alpha USB/SPDIF converter ($1900) and Stealth Varidig Sextet ($3600) AES/EBU digital cable. The BADA is in my experience, the best outboard converter available on the market today (I have tried over 15 different converters, including M2tech EVO, with and without the optional EVO Clock and EVO Power Supply) and so is the Stealth cable.

To my surprise, the MSB USB module turned out to sound slightly better than the BADA / Stealth combination. It offers slightly better resolution, better layering of instruments and resolving each performer in space. So even though I think that selling $30 worth of parts for $1300 is as a first class rip off, the MSB USB module is the way to go with MSB gear.

 

[edorr]

cuprone1 - I did some comparisions today. I have compared the MSB Signature 384 internal USB module to my BADA Alpha USB/SPDIF converter ($1900) and Stealth Varidig Sextet ($3600) AES/EBU digital cable. The BADA is in my experience, the best outboard converter available on the market today (I have tried over 15 different converters, including M2tech EVO, with and without the optional EVO Clock and EVO Power Supply) and so is the Stealth cable.

To my surprise, the MSB USB module turned out to sound slightly better than the BADA / Stealth combination. It offers slightly better resolution, better layering of instruments and resolving each performer in space. So even though I think that selling $30 worth of parts for $1300 is as a first class rip off, the MSB USB module is the way to go with MSB gear.

What USB source did you use? It is all about the architecture in my estimation. In asynchronous / reclocking mode all the source does is load bits into a FIFO buffer. It is very conceivable using a few grand worth of hardware to do this job, gains you nothing over using USB, as you appear to be confirming.

 

[cuprone1]

cuprone1 - I did some comparisions today. I have compared the MSB Signature 384 internal USB module to my BADA Alpha USB/SPDIF converter ($1900) and Stealth Varidig Sextet ($3600) AES/EBU digital cable. The BADA is in my experience, the best outboard converter available on the market today (I have tried over 15 different converters, including M2tech EVO, with and without the optional EVO Clock and EVO Power Supply) and so is the Stealth cable.

To my surprise, the MSB USB module turned out to sound slightly better than the BADA / Stealth combination. It offers slightly better resolution, better layering of instruments and resolving each performer in space. So even though I think that selling $30 worth of parts for $1300 is as a first class rip off, the MSB USB module is the way to go with MSB gear.

Many thanks Elberoth, usuful information to decide if using external interface or Usb input. I will go with this one and with Galaxy clock as well.